'I've been the partner waiting in the car park': Cork TD hits out at minister over maternity restrictions

“I waited outside by the car park looking up at the early pregnancy unit waiting room window, as close as I could get. I am glad to say all was fine, but I tell you, we were worried,” Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Cork Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire has told the Dáil of how he was forced to remain outside a maternity hospital while his partner had to attend an emergency appointment.

Speaking during a debate on the state of maternity services in Ireland, Mr O Laoghaire became visibly upset as he recounted how he was forced to stand outside in a carpark, while his partner Eimear was examined following a bleed.

In a short but charged contribution, the Cork South Central poll-topper hit out at Health Minister Stephen Donnelly’s “feet dragging” in not ensuring partners are allowed attend critical moments.

“Minister, just before Christmas, my partner Eimear had an emergency appointment with the early pregnancy unit, because she was bleeding.

“I waited outside by the car park looking up at the early pregnancy unit waiting room window, as close as I could get. I am glad to say all was fine, but I tell you, we were worried,” he said.

“And if it was not fine, Eimear would have had to face that appointment, alone, She would have got that bad news, alone. Earth-shattering devastating news. Alone. Minister, that's still the same today,” he said.

“You need to stop dragging your heels on this minister and force action and stop presenting these minimal changes as enough. Women need their partners during all of labour after birth and at key appointments. Partners are not visitors, they are essential support,” he said.

“From Monday you can have a meal outdoors, you can go to a museum. Yet, a partner cannot be present with a woman during their birth, giving birth through all of their labour.” 

“And what's worse, Minister is you and your government are trying to present an absolutely minimal tiny level of access as a major opening up. It's a cod. The level of access is totally unacceptable, it is a fraud,” he said.

He said hospital staff are now vaccinated and pregnant women are increasingly being vaccinated.

“Partners and expectant mothers are almost always coming from the same household presenting the same Covid risk,” and there is no justification for not allowing them access.

He pointed to advice on the Ireland South hospital group website that “you can join during strong active labour and then soon after birth”. 

He said it was ridiculous and outrageous that how many centimetres a woman was dilated determined when she needed support.

“On the same website, there is a Royal College of Midwives report which states that having trusted birth partners there is known to make a significant difference to the safety and wellbeing of women.”